Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-01

were Immediately turned over to the girls.
By just such acts as this Ponciano Diaz has
become known throughout Mexico and even
the street gamin shout for 'sPonciano" when
ever he passes along the streets He has
also risen rapidly in wealth, and from being
poor ranchero few years ago, has amassed
fortune estimated at something more than
one hundred thousand dollars
Diaz was born in 1868 on the Hacienda de
Atenco, in this State, and at an early age be-
came noted for his magnificent horseman-
ship. There was no animal on the Hacienda
too wild for him to manage, and he soon
learned to perform on the backs of these un-
tanned steeds the same feats which he had
witnessed in circus rings. He also com
menced learning the art of bull fighting, and
made his first appearance in the ring at Pue-
bio in April, 1879. Since then Ponciano's
career has been a continued series of suc-
cesses. One of his favorite acts is while
mounted bareback on a fiery steed, to insert
the bandarrillos into the shoulders of the
charging bull.
Leaving aside the natural admiration
which the skill and daring of man like
Diaz inspires, bull fighting is the most brutal
sport of modern times. The bull is not a
harmless animal, which can be slaughtered
easily in the ring. The apparent ease with
which the death blow is given by the mata-
dor causes many people to suppose that the
feat is attended by little if any danger; but
to those who are familiar with the art of bull
fighting it is known that the utmost skill is
required, and one false step means almost
certain death
The records of the ring show long list of
casualties, and it seems to be matter of
certainty that the most expert bull fighter
will eventually fall victim to some infu-
rated animal. He is destined to meet
horrible fate in plain view of the same
crowd which has so often applauded his
bloody deeds, and once borne bleeding and
DIVING rIn h 10
forgotten.
One Of the most terrible deaths occur
ring here was that of Bernardo Gavino,
Spanish torero, who, while appearing be-
fore a large audience in the Texcoco ring
was caught by the bull which he was to
closing the ring. He died in a short time
of hemorrhage.
A few weeks ago Carlos Lopez Gel Man
chado), a noted banderil1o, had most re-
markable escape from death in the Plaza de
Colon. He was caught upon the horns of
an unusually fierce bull, and was carried
around the ring several times before he
could be released. The horns of the bull
had not pierced his body, but had passed
between the body and the silk sash around
the waist, and in this perilous position he
was whirled and tossed until released by
the parting of the sash. He was badly
bruised, but not seriously injured.
Among the horrible accidents which have
befallen noted bull fighters may be men,
toned that of the Banderillo Lagares, who
was tossed upon the horns of a bull and
SO badly injured that he could not recover,
and after lingering for nearly a year Sc
cured relief from his sufferings by commit
ting suicide. He stabbed himself with one
of the very swords he had used in his fa-
nous fights in the ring.
The celebrated Cuchares, after enooun-
tering many accidents, was finally caught
upon the sharp horns of one of his furious
antagonists and so firmly held there that
he was carried around the ring many times
before he could be released in a dying con-
dition.
Fernando Gomez one of the most noted
banderillos, was pierced through and
through just as was in the act of putting
in the banderrillos, and many other in-
stances of the same kind have occurred.
Even Ponciano Disz, with all his skill, has
already lost one finger of his left hand,
and has narrowly escaped death several
times. 1t is often the case that the mata-
dor can escape death in no other way than
by throwing himself fat upon the ground
and allowing the bull to pass over him,
preferring to be trampled rather than
gored.
If bull fighting is fatal to men it is
doubly SO to the poor horses who are forced
to be unwilling participants in the combat
The way these poor prutes are treated is
horrible IN the extreme. They are poWerless
to protect themselves against the charges of
the bull, and must receive the cruel thrusts
of his horns simply to crafty the blood
thirsty instincts of the crowd which is look
ing on. The horse is brought into the ring
to be killed, and the crowd is only satisfied
when he is thrown down and disemboweIled
by the bull. He is then taken from the ring
bleeding and apparently lifeless, but incred-
ible as it may appear, his sufferings are not
yet at an end. Once on the outside the pro-
truding entreils are pushed back into place,
the gaping wound is sewed up, the blood is
washed from his body and legs, and in a few
minutes he is taken back into the ring rigged
out as fresh horse. Here he has to under
go the same treatment he received before,
and is again forced to receive the cruel
thrusts of the bulls horns. This sort of
thing Is repeated until the horse has not
strength left to carry man on his back,
and then he is killed. The same horse
sometimes takes part in three or four
fights, and endures hours of torture before
he is finally disabled.
Do Americans enjoy this bloody sport?
If actions prove anything they are its most
enthusiastic admirers and steadiest patrons.
Every Sunday in both bull rings will be
found large percentage of the American
colony, who shout and applaud as vigor-
ously as any of the Mexican spectators.
Few Americans come to Mexico without 60